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Top 5 Herbs to Grow in Your Garden

Herbs are the foundation of all modern medicine. There are hundreds of herbs that have been used for years for their medicinal properties. In fact in ancient times, physicians grew gardens specifically full of healing herbs. You can even plant some herbs in your garden and use them for cooking or treating different health problems.

Here are top 5 herbs that you must grow in your own garden.

Basil

You must always keep basil at your home. This herb contains many chemical compounds that are known to prevent disease and promote health. The flowers and leaves of basil plan can be used to treat flatulence, lack of appetite, cuts, acne, headache, kidney stones, common cold and scrapes.

Basil grows easily from seed planted after all danger of frost has passed. Plant in well-drained soil enriched with organic materials and where sunlight is plenty. Basil needs ample water and sunlight to grow. You can use the leaves as soon as the plant is large enough to spare some. Collect the leaves from the tops of the branches, and use it as required.

Get parsley seeds from the market and sow them outside direct into the ground or into large pots. Parsley grows best in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Keep the seeds well watered to aid germination and they should sprout in three to four weeks. You can begin harvesting parsley as soon as the plants are growing vigorously. Use fresh or dried parsley leaves for garnishing, flavoring and treating many common health problems.

Coriander

Another herb that is often used in cooking and dressing your salad or soup is coriander. Along with the culinary benefits, coriander provides many health benefits also. Both coriander seeds and leaves can be used in the treatment of skin inflammation, headache, high cholesterol levels, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, mouth ulcers, anemia, indigestion, menstrual disorders, smallpox, conjunctivitis, skin disorders, and blood sugar disorders.

Coriander can be easily grown from seed. Sow seeds either in the ground or in large pots. Always remember that coriander likes a sunny spot, well-drained soil and a steady supply of both water and fertilizer. After a few weeks you keep picking mature leaves as and when you need them. If you wish to use the seeds, allow the flowers to seed. When the seeds stop smelling unpleasant, you can collect them and use in cooking, keeping some to sow for another crop.

Mint

Since ages, this herb has been used in cooking for its aromatic flavor. It also has a special place in ancient medicine for its remarkable medicinal properties. Mint can relieve indigestion, fight acne, improve skin texture, fights cancer, boost immunity, beat morning sickness, relieve menstrual pain, beat stress and depression, treat common cold, cough and asthma.

It is better to find mint plants from nursery whose flavor and aroma appeal to you. You can plan a mint plan in on open garden or large pot. Mint prefers moist soil and light sun to shade. Keep it well-watered and remove the flowers to stop it from seeding. Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer from time to time. Pick fresh mint leaves throughout the growing season. To harvest in quantity, cut stems to within an inch or so above the ground.

Dill

The dill plant is a culinary herb that is known worldwide for its aromatic flavor, as well as ornamental contribution to gardens and medicinal properties. Dill has many health benefits like it can boost digestive health, provide relief from insomnia, hiccups, diarrhea, dysentery, menstrual disorders, respiratory disorders, and cancer and protect you from bone degradation and arthritis.

You can grow dill in common garden soil. It will grow best in a sunny spot with some shelter from the wind. Sow the seeds deep inside the soil as this herb has long roots that need plenty of room to grow. Dill seed germinates quickly and you can notice sprouts growing within about two weeks. You can pick the leaves fresh whenever you need them. If you want you can use the seed too.

Conclusion

Grow these herbs to enhance the look of your garden as well as to keep you healthy and soothe ailments. Before using any of these herbs, you need to consult your doctor to know in details about the health benefits of these herbs and how to use them.